PRINCE Andrew is visiting Sunderland on Friday to officially open a project aimed at improving the health of local residents.

Pennywell's Community and Health Resource Centre is the culmination of almost ten years' work by locals.

The Portsmouth Road centre, which is owned and managed by residents, has helped to provide the estate with community facilities and a GP, treating more than 2,000 patients.

The facilities include an all- day crche for parents involved in group work or training sessions, after-school facilities and counselling rooms.

Funding has been raised through a number of sources, including £330,000 from the Single Regeneration Budget, with further grants from trusts, the European Union, the Lottery and One NorthEast.

Residents collected more than £10,000 towards the building with fundraising efforts ranging from washing cars to selling personalised bricks.

Denise Barna, project manager, said: "Everyone involved in getting the project off the ground has worked extremely hard.

"This facility was wanted by local people for a long time and now they make the decisions about the type of services delivered from here.

"We are thrilled that the Duke of York is coming to officially open the centre and it is a real boost for all those who have worked to make the project happen.

"Not only does the visit acknowledge the hard work which has gone into the centre, but it also symbolises the considerable changes in the area over the last few years.